Using GrabFood & GrabMart in Vietnam: Beyond Just Rides for Tourists

You step off an overnight train or a late flight, your phone is at 12%, and every shop near your hotel is shuttered or has a menu you cannot read. This is the moment most first-time visitors in 2026 realise Grab is more than a taxi app. GrabFood and GrabMart can put a hot meal, bottled water or a box of pain relief at your door without a single wrong turn. This guide shows you how to set everything up, what it costs, and where it can let you down. The fees below are estimates for 2026, so treat them as a guide and check the final total in the app.

Setting Up Grab as a Tourist

Download the Grab app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Do this on hotel or airport WiFi before you need it, because a food order at 10 pm is a bad time to wait for a 200 MB download.

1. Open the app and tap “Sign Up.”
2. Enter your mobile number. Use an international number that can receive SMS abroad, or a local Vietnamese SIM card.
3. Type in the SMS verification code.
4. Add your name and email address.
5. Agree to the terms and conditions.

Next, add a payment method. From the home screen, tap “Payment,” or go to “Account” and then “Payment Methods,” and choose “Add a payment method.”

• Credit or debit card: Most international Visa, Mastercard, JCB and American Express cards are accepted. Enter the card number, expiry date and CVV. Your own bank may still charge international transaction fees, so check with them first.
• GrabPay Wallet: This is mainly designed for local users. You may be able to top it up with a linked foreign card, but this is not guaranteed in 2026. Paying directly by card is simpler.
• Cash: Cash on delivery is widely available. Choose “Cash” before you confirm the order.

How to Order on GrabFood, Step by Step

GrabFood is Vietnam’s leading food delivery service. It covers everything from sidewalk stalls to high-end restaurants. Think of the smell of grilled pork drifting from a corner kitchen at dusk: you can often get that same dish delivered, even when you could never find the stall yourself.

1. Open Grab and tap “Food.”
2. Check your delivery address. The app usually detects your location, but you should edit it to add your hotel room number or Airbnb unit.
3. Browse by cuisine or popularity, or search for a dish or restaurant. The English interface has improved.



4. Pick a restaurant and add items to your cart.
5. Add special instructions, such as “no chili” or “extra napkins.”
6. Go to checkout. Confirm the address, contact number and payment method (card or cash).
7. Tap “Place Order.”
8. Follow your order on the live map. You can message or call the driver if needed.

The special instructions box is your best friend for dietary needs. Type “không ớt” for no chili, or write out your allergy clearly.

Using GrabMart for Essentials

GrabMart delivers groceries, convenience store items, pharmacy products and other everyday goods. It is the app’s answer to the 11 pm moment when you realise you have no water, no sunscreen and no phone charger cable. Stores listed can include Circle K, FamilyMart, local pharmacies and specialty shops.

1. Open Grab and tap “Mart.”
2. Confirm your delivery address.
3. Browse available stores.
4. Select a store and add items to your cart.
5. Add notes if needed, for example a specific brand of milk.
6. Go to checkout, confirm the details and choose how to pay.
7. Tap “Place Order” and track it.

It also saves you from walking out late at night when you only need one small thing. Expect an average wait of 30–60 minutes, depending on how fast the store packs your order and how far away it is.

2026 Budget Reality: What Delivery Really Costs

The food or product price is separate from the extras. These are the estimated 2026 delivery charges, using about 1 USD = 25,500 VND.

• Base delivery fee: 18,000–30,000 VND (about $0.70–$1.20) for distances up to 3–5 km. Longer trips cost more per kilometre.
• Small order fee: On GrabFood this can apply if your food total is below a threshold such as 35,000 VND. On GrabMart it is likely below 40,000 VND. Either way it adds 5,000–10,000 VND (about $0.20–$0.40).



• Platform fee: Often 3,000–5,000 VND (about $0.12–$0.20) per order.
• Surge pricing: During lunch and dinner peaks, bad weather or high demand, delivery fees can rise by 20–50% or more.

Here is how those add up in practice:

• Budget: A nearby order at a quiet time with a normal basket size. Roughly 21,000 VND (about $0.82) in fees: the lowest base fee plus the lowest platform fee.
• Mid-range: A mid-distance order with a typical platform fee. Think 30,000–35,000 VND (about $1.18–$1.37) in fees at the upper end of the base fee range.
• Comfortable: A far-away restaurant, a tiny basket or a rainy dinner rush. With a top base fee, a platform fee and a small order fee, you could pay around 45,000 VND (about $1.76) before any surge.

Even at the top end, the cost is small compared with a taxi to a restaurant and back. It is the small basket plus a surge that makes delivery feel expensive.

Cash, Cards, Tipping and Talking to Drivers

Cash on delivery is the most popular option with tourists. Keep 50,000 VND and 100,000 VND notes ready. Drivers may not have change for a 500,000 VND note, and counting out change on a humid street while the motorbike engine idles is not fun.

Tipping is not mandatory in Vietnam, but it is highly appreciated. A small tip of 10,000–20,000 VND (about $0.40–$0.80), or rounding up, is common for good service. The app may offer in-app tipping, or you can hand over cash.

If you do not speak Vietnamese, use the in-app chat translation feature or simple English phrases. Drivers are generally used to foreign customers. Short messages like “I am at the front desk” work best.

Fitting Delivery Into Your Travel Days

After a train ride

Once you reach a major station such as Hanoi, Da Nang or Ho Chi Minh City and drop your bags at your accommodation, you can order a meal or groceries right away. Official Vietnam Railways booking is at dsvn.vn (Vietnamese) or vietnamrailways.net (English, which often redirects to dsvn.vn or third-party agents). Estimated 2026 fares for Hanoi–Da Nang:

• Hard Seat: 450,000–600,000 VND (about $17.6–$23.5)
• Soft Seat: 600,000–800,000 VND (about $23.5–$31.4)
• Hard Sleeper (6-berth): 850,000–1,100,000 VND (about $33.3–$43.1)
• Soft Sleeper (4-berth): 1,000,000–1,500,000 VND (about $39.2–$58.8)

Prices vary by train type (SE1–SE20), season and booking class. Booking well in advance is recommended.

After a domestic flight

After landing at Tan Son Nhat (SGN), Noi Bai (HAN) or Da Nang (DAD) and taking a Grab car or taxi to your hotel, you can order food without going out again.

During your stay and on bus routes

In a city or a quiet guesthouse, delivery means you do not have to rent a motorbike just for errands. GrabFood and GrabMart cannot deliver onto a moving bus, but you can use them during a long terminal layover or when you reach your destination, before you head to your accommodation.

What Has Changed Since 2024

Some of the changes below are expected trends rather than confirmed details, so check the app when you arrive.

• Better English and translation: App localisation and in-app translation tools keep improving for international users.
• More merchants: More restaurants and specialty stores are joining, especially in smaller tourist destinations.
• Smoother card payments: Foreign card integration is expected to be easier, though I could not confirm specific payment partnerships.
• Personalised suggestions: The app offers more recommendations based on your past orders and location.
• Electric delivery bikes: More electric motorbikes are expected in the delivery fleet. I do not have a confirmed percentage.
• Possible subscriptions: Grab may offer subscription packages with lower delivery fees, but a tourist-specific package is not confirmed.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Trusting the auto-detected pin: It may place you on the street, not at your room. Always add unit details.
• Paying with a 500,000 VND note: Drivers often cannot break it. Bring smaller notes.
• Ignoring the peak-hour surcharge: Check the total before tapping “Place Order.” Surges are shown clearly.
• Ordering a tiny basket: One drink may trigger the small order fee. Combine items.
• Forgetting wait times: GrabFood averages 25–45 minutes. In peak hours or bad weather it can reach 60–90 minutes, so do not order when you are already starving.
• Expecting full coverage everywhere: Some very remote areas have limited GrabFood and GrabMart service.
• Assuming it is always perfect: Wrong or missing items are rare but happen. Check your bag at the door and message the driver straight away if something is off.
• Relying on poor data: You need a working smartphone and internet connection. Sort out your SIM or WiFi first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can tourists use GrabFood in Vietnam with a foreign phone number?

Yes. Sign up with an international number that can receive SMS abroad, or use a local Vietnamese SIM card. Enter the verification code, add your name and email, and agree to the terms. After that, you can order from the Food tab like any local user.

Can I pay for GrabFood and GrabMart with cash?

Yes. Cash on delivery is widely available and often preferred by tourists, especially for smaller orders. Select “Cash” as the payment method before confirming. Carry 50,000 VND or 100,000 VND notes, because drivers may not always have change for a 500,000 VND note.

How much is the delivery fee in 2026?

The estimated base fee is 18,000–30,000 VND (about $0.70–$1.20) for up to 3–5 km. A platform fee of 3,000–5,000 VND is often added, and small orders may carry 5,000–10,000 VND extra. Surge pricing can raise fees by 20–50% or more at peak times.

How long does GrabFood or GrabMart delivery take?

GrabFood usually takes 25–45 minutes, depending on kitchen preparation time and distance. In peak hours or bad weather it can stretch to 60–90 minutes. GrabMart averages 30–60 minutes, depending on how quickly the store processes your order and how far away it is.

Do I need to tip a Grab delivery driver in Vietnam?

No, it is optional. Rounding up or giving 10,000–20,000 VND for good service is a common thank-you, and you can tip in the app or hand cash directly to the driver.

📷 Featured image by Mike on Unsplash.